Waitrose Becomes First UK Retailer to Suspend Mackerel Purchases
Waitrose became the first supermarket in the United Kingdom to suspend mackerel sourcing, citing a “stand against overfishing” and its effort to support sustainable fish stocks, the company announced on February 26.
The massive retailer will halt sourcing of fresh, chilled and frozen mackerel by April 29, with tinned mackerel following once its stock has sold through.
Waitrose highlighted the September 2025 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) recommendation to slash mackerel quotas by 70% to help stocks rebuild. Three months later, four Coastal States agreed to cut catches by 48%, and while the retailer believes that move was a step in the right direction, it doesn’t meet the scientific advice.
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